A Day in a New York Life: Agency’s Daudley Fanfan.

New York Life | May 13, 2024

Fanfan says interacting with our agents and field managers has been the most interesting thing about his role. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there on the topic of DEI. Our work creates a more inclusive experience for all agents, regardless of culture, background, or experiences. We create high-performing teams by bringing people together from different backgrounds and complementary skillsets, and in turn, creating a more meaningful agent and client experience.,” he says.

Fanfan works to create understanding about building culture through a DEI lens, rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity. “It’s fascinating and rewarding to see the transformation that happens when you help someone understand what DEI is, and most importantly, what it's not,” he says. “There's no end point when it comes to learning about diverse experiences. Cultural competency is a learning continuum.”

Fanfan says while he’s had only a few formal mentors throughout his career, he builds and maintains a remarkable network of people and learns something from each of them. “Friends, colleagues, and peers have all been a source of inspiration, motivation, and have offered me valuable lessons in my career,” he says.

The best career advice Fanfan ever got is, “Growth happens outside your comfort zone. All things are difficult before they become easy,” he says.

Something most people don’t know is that Fanfan has been a barber since he was in middle school. “I started by experimenting with friends and family members. Then, I became the neighborhood barber, and eventually I helped open a barber shop,” he explains. He says the barber shop has always been “a safe space where people from all corners of life come to talk about anything and everything, and I've always enjoyed that human connection.”

When he’s not in the office, Fanfan enjoys spending time with his family, working out at the gym, and being an active parent in the community. He also coaches his daughter’s lacrosse team a few evenings a week.